SDI Greenstone

Source: Supply Chain Digital

Date :11/04/2008 15:54:15

SDI Group makes the product fit the solution, not the other way round, explains Sales Director, Stuart Stables

Written by Roxanne Ridge and Produced by Paul Radbourne

SDI Group stands out – not only does it have an approach that’s head and shoulders above all competitors in its field, it does what it does fantastically for what is a relatively new company.

Established in 1995, SDI Group is a global systems integrator with a turnover of $100 million and offices in North America, South America and Europe.

The UK branch is a provider of systems and solutions to the retail, wholesale, fulfilment and e-commerce industries and deals with large retail clients that include Monsoon, Primark, H&M, George at Asda and TK Maxx.

There are several UK offices, which employ around 150 staff in total. This includes a factory in Rugby and several regional organisations and sales and product customer sites.

Recent annual turnover results showed that SDI took around £17 to £18 million and the company predicts this will increase. Clearly a breath of fresh air to organisations needing bespoke solutions and a complete project management system – but how does it make it all work?

Cradle to grave service

Although principally associated with the provision of integrated materials handling solutions, the company aims to provide a wide-ranging service – offering everything from design consultancy and software installation to ongoing maintenance.

The company does market its own products, and has recently been investing in a new warehouse management system, but primarily its concern is focused on providing a one-stop solution service and project management.

“SDI Group UK can offer the customer a complete solution to their problem,” explains Stuart Stables, who came to the company twelve months ago after working for a third party logistics company, which was one of SDI Group’s customers. “Our engineers will visit the site and look at how we can help them. If necessary, they’ll design a system for them, install the equipment, arrange the electrical control systems, integrate the various aspects of the design and provide support after the sale – we aim to provide a life cycle service commitment to all our products.

“Unlike our competitors, who might spend more time marketing their own products, we concentrate on making products work and making them fit the solution rather than the other way around.

“This best in breed approach has a lot of benefits – rather than using multiple companies to work on one project, we can provide a quicker, cost effective service. Everything will be tailored to the specific client and it will provide a quicker solution than they’d perhaps get if they used various different companies for all the work.” Part of this approach is consulting – an area that the company has been looking to develop more.

“Consulting is necessary for every project,” says Stuart. “Our total logistics solution package includes material handling consulting, as well as design, engineering, fabrication, installation and integration services. “And it is this area that has meant that we’ve got a lot of new clients over the last three years.”

Big names

Since its inception, SDI has worked with large blue chip retail organisations and the company is now a specialist in apparel retail distribution. Recent clients have included George at Asda, Primark and Monsoon, among many other high street retail chains. However, they’re now looking to move into new markets to expand the business.

One of the areas that SDI has been expanding into is the book and CD market.

“We’ve now got established specialists in apparel retail who work for the company,” explains Stuart. “And we have a great knowledge of the market.

“However, we’ve recently been moving into multimedia, CD and book markets and we’re building up a portfolio in this sector too. The clients we’ve worked with include WHSmith, Bertram Books and HMV.

“There are various challenges this market has been facing and SDI has been working hard to provide industry-specific and bespoke solutions for companies. “We currently have very impressive ROI results in this area. Our consistent, reliable and effective service will continue to evolve and, as we solve more problems, we’ll no doubt continue to grow in this market.”

A global organisation

Last year, the SDI Group floated on the stock exchange. Doing this meant that the company expanded and became standardised as one brand – bringing together SDI Greenstone and the different partners of the SDI Group. “We now have shareholders,” explains Stuart. “And they’ll be expecting us to develop, grow and hit numbers and targets.

“SDI Group is looking to grow to about £22 million in the next year and this is largely to do with the organic growth we’re going to experience because we’re now part of a huge global organisation.”

One of the forces behind this growth is likely to be down to the opening of more worldwide offices. The company recently opened a new office in India and has also got offices in France, Spain, Germany, Chile and Brazil.

Strong staffing

None of this would be possible, however, if SDI didn’t invest heavily in its staffing practices. There is a comprehensive range of skills across the company, from designers down to more basic assembly staff. All levels of staff are encouraged to take NVQs and they still run apprenticeships too.

“Last November, one of our apprentices won an Apprentice of the Year award and went down to meet the Prime Minister,” explains Stuart. “This was really great for the company.

“SDI Group offers a variety of opportunities to move around the different offices - as well as delivering the benefits that our recent growth and expansion bring; there is always a ladder to climb within the company.

“It is not always easy to find and keep good maintenance staff for example, but SDI Group, as an attractive company to work for, manages to train and keep the best.

“This, in turn, ensures that we’re always providing the best service to our customers.”

Click here to view the corporate brochure on SDI Greenstone